Some strategies i use are playing games to help the student learn about the material they are covering. Also allowing students to create questions so other students can answer, so they can learn from each other.
Lauren,
Connecting the dots between class content and career application is so important. The more examples you can share with your students the more value they will see in the content being taught.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
I find that one way to keep students motivated during a course is to show how the material you are covering relates to the real world and the career they are persuing. There is nothing more frustrating or less motivating than to take a course that you feel is not going to benefit you when you are working.
Sandra,
As they say they must keep their eyes (and minds) on the end result. If we can encourage them to do so they will more likely to complete their program and go on to career success.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
This is a great response. If students can see
what awaits them at the end of their educational journal I think that is the best motivation one can have. Grest insight.
S. Craig
Georgette,
So true and so important in helping students achieve success.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
To help increase student motivation, it is important to convey a message of hope, enthusiasm, and endless possibilities. Sharing your own experience, strength, and hope can help students identify their own strengths as they see in you.
Harrison,
Important point about how to encourage and support students. They do need a positive word from their instructor so they can see the value of the course and how the instructor is going to help them to move toward their career goals.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
Encouragement, positive comments, having a cheerful attitude yourself even if your having a bad day. Students feed on the class atmosphere. Some have never heard" Great Job or I'm Proud of You"
Justin,
I agree and as you know students like hearing these stories as they reinforce the value of the content that is being shared. In addition, the stories motivate the students and get them engaged in the learning process.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
I believe that showing success stories helps motivate students because they can see how they could have a promising future in the field. Also showing your students that you genuinely care about their success in class is another great motivator.
Tracy,
Good observation. Yes, students become more engaged when they know you care about them and their success. They start to see you as a part of their success team because you listen to them, support them and give feedback to them. This shows them the value of having an instructor like you being their learning leader.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
From my experience in teaching I find that students seem more motivated when they know you care about their learning process.
Even better when you can recognize each person may have a different learning style and you can adapt your process to their style.
They are more motivated when you can show them the value in what they are learning and how it will help them reach their future career goals.
Darrell,
So true and so important. The more they feel accepted and comfortable at the beginning of the class the more engaged they will be in the learning process.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
By greeting the student's the first day it allows for you to not only get to know the students, but eliminate some of the fears they have on the first day. This also motivates the student and gains there interest.
I believe than demonstrating relevance through practical application is the key to motivation.
Bruce,
This is so important! They have to see themselves as being successful in their career area. Many students have a hard time seeing themselves out in the career even though they have chosen to prepare to enter it.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
Show real life examples of successful students and business professionals. Let the students know it is possible!
Sharon,
I like your instructional plan and how you have laid out your content delivery to support, engage and focus your students. This is what learning should be about.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
Motivation is always a challenge. Working with adult students, I find that adult student inherently tend to be motivating, perhaps because they are spending their own money to take the course or possibly because they are more mature and have a more professional perspective of how a college education can benefit them. On the flip side, we are conducting these classes after a long day of work and energy levels can lag for our adult learners. I continually try to relate the concepts we are learning to real life examples and then seek to have the student offer some real life examples as they relate to the concepts. I try to maintain a schedule of 20 minutes of 'lecture', then an activity to reinforce the concepts in the lecture, then a mental (and snack) break. This tends to keep the majority engaged.
